Immigration: Refugee Doctors

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Excerpts

Monday 24th February 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The right reverend Prelate will recognise that the ambition for this coming year is that it should exceed previous years, and he will know that under our various resettlement schemes we are on course to resettle 20,000 people from the region this year. It is difficult to make commitments beyond this year because of the spending review, frustrating though that is, but I will keep him posted on our future ambitions for resettling people.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I will certainly confirm in writing if that is the case, because we do not want people who are ineligible to practise. We have had examples of that.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

Will the noble Baroness be kind enough, after Oral Questions, to revisit the answer she gave a moment or two ago about the health service being “propped up” by immigrant labour? We rely on many immigrant doctors. Many of us have had experience of relying on those immigrant doctors in this country. It was an unfortunate term to use, considering the shortages, the waiting lists and those people—we all know someone—who have waited a very long time. She should reconsider her answer.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Noble Lords will know that, in using that word, I did not mean it to be in any way derogatory; nor is it a derogatory term.